at least for Dennis Nifong
Last spring, the nation supposedly was enlightened to a tragic course of events. A woman had been raped by 3 priveledged students at one of the south's premiere universities. And this time, justice would prevail. the students were quickly identified, indicted and imprisoned. Evidence, including DNA evidence was gathered that would prove these out of control rich-kids were guilty of raping this poor woman. The students were thrown off the team, thrown off campus. The rest of the team, who was considered "guilty by association" were disbanded as a team and the coach, who must have been aware that his team was full of rapists and degenerates, was fired on the spot.
The only problem was, it was all a hoax perpetrated by a delusional woman with a history of mental illness that required treatment. Early evidence suggested this. Security photographs and receipts even put at least 1 of the 3 alleged rapists miles from the scene of the crime. It became clear early on that the photo line-ups were done outside the rules of such procedures when it was learned that only players were in the line up. No persons were inserted into the test who were not players ensuring no matter who she identified, these bad lacrosse players were going down.
Dennis Nifong, the DA in the case, vigorously pursued the case, supposedly. That vigor got an unpopular DA re-elected. And from what the newly elected DA was telling us, justice for the woman and the players would soon follow. His office told the public to ignore all the rumours surrounding the case. Ignore the alleged evidence the "media" was putting out that cleared the players. We were told to believe him and his evidence that the players were 100% guilty.
In the last couple of weeks, we have finally seen jusice's wheels begin to turn. But not how Mr Nifong intended. The wheels of justice are rightfully in a direction to run over him, and his lies. Lies that got him re-elected, legitimized the ramblings of a nut-job and permantly tarnished the lives and reputations of at least 3 students and lacrosse players. Lies that meant a coach was out of a job because a nutjob spewed her ramblings into (indirectly, it turns out) the ears of a crooked DA that wanted to save his own job. Lies that ended a season for an entire team. A season that will never be recovered. Lies that caused a wealth of damage, most of which cannot be undone.
But what can be done began to be done when Nifong was charged with new and much more serious ethics charges than were previously charged to Nifong. The charges now include Nifong’s decision to use a private lab for DNA testing as his office investigated allegations three men raped the woman at a team party last March.
Those tests uncovered genetic material from several men on the woman’s underwear and body, but none from any lacrosse player. The bar complaint alleges that those results were not released to the defense and that Nifong repeatedly said in court he had turned over all evidence that could benefit the defense.
“If these allegations are true and if they don’t justify disbarment, then I’m not sure what does,” said Joseph Kennedy, a law professor at the University of North Carolina. “It’s hard for me to imagine a more serious set of allegations against a prosecutor.”
The bar previously charged Nifong with making misleading and prejudicial comments about the athletes under suspicion.
Nifong is a disgrace, in my opinion. He has used his office in ways that are not only unethical and deserve his disbarrment, but also criminal. It appears the only "crime" the 3 students, or any of the students were guilty of were that of allowing some underage drinking, which is common on virtually all campuses and for being wealthy and white. They made the perfect target for Nifong's case and campaign.
Maybe now that Nifong is being exposed, people will re-examine their willingness to convict before actually knowing anything. Maybe people will think twice before applying age old stereotypes to damn certain indivduals and use allegations as "proof" that these stereotypes are indeed true.
Probably not. But if justice does actually come to Dennis Nifong's doorstep and he is at least disbarred for violating just about every ethic that is supposed to be part of his job, then it's a start.